The Nerdy Day

It's just a matter of hours before I leave my dorm and head to the bus terminal, which will take my to the airport, which will take me home. I've been here for 98 days now; it's time to go home.

I figured, though, now that the last papers are turn in, our last British tea was had, and I'm just waiting for the time to call the taxi, it'd be a good time to catch up the blog with perhaps one of the most fun days I had in London just this past weekend.

I caught a morning train up from Brighton to meet up with my friend Laura, arriving pretty early in the day. We dashed out of Victoria Station and made our way past Trafalgar Square as we headed towards the West End to purchase theatre tickets later that night. Once they were procured we began our day of nerdy activities and headed for the Underground.

We got off at St. John's Wood and walked up to one of the places I wanted to visit most since finding out I had been accepted at my university for study this term -- Abbey Road.



We got to see the studio from outside the graffiti-covered wall as musicians entered and exited the building to work on recordings. It was really cool, and seeing all the signings on the wall made everything feel connected. We then crossed the road, treading the same place The Beatles had 40 years earlier. It was really surreal.







The next stop was a trip to Abney Park Cemetery, a Victorian cemetery that inspired Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard book.



It was mid-afternoon but the sun sets so early here that we ended up wandering the graveyard mainly in the gloaming. It was beautiful.











It was fantastically old and surrounded by a park. All the graves seem to be getting overtaken by nature, vines and roots climbing all over every headstone, overgrown bushes sprouting from graves, broken and toppled stonework from the gravestones. It was gorgeous. We ended up staying long enough that we were treated to a beautiful view of the moon as we walked through the dark and loamy earth, our breath coming out in puffs from the cold, faces stinging in the wet air.

We then made our way back to the West End to see Hairspray at the theatre. It was absolutely brilliant, such a great performance. Laura and I were really happy with how fun it was.

After all that I had to sadly depart and come back to Brighton because of homework -- final essays needed to be written and I was behind.

I finished them, of course, and turned them in on Wednesday so that I could take the last day off and enjoy myself. I caught up on sleep and finished packing Thursday and now… I'm just waiting to leave in the matter of just a few hours. I suppose I'll be writing again on the other side. I'm so glad to be going home.

Remembrance Day at Trafalgar Square

On the eleventh hour
Of the eleventh day
Of the eleventh month
The guns fell silent

This past 11 November was the 90th anniversary of the Armistice of WWI.

I spent my day that day travelling once again to London for the Two Minute Silence at Trafalgar Square. After the event, Katie and I paid a visit to the Imperial War Museum to see the newly opened WWI exhibition, In Memoriam.

Again, I'll just lift this update from my journal because there's little reason to change what I've said when I've already laid it out there.

Today was a beautifully sunny day in London. That alone is worth noting.




John Hurt reciting this remembrance poetry:

      Do Not Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!

      --Mary Frye

This reading was followed by a public watching of the three remaining WWI veterans place wreaths at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in England. Whilst the veterans looked on and reflected during the Two Minute Silence, the crowd in the Square was silent, too, watching one of the veterans refuse to let his helping servicemen lay his wreath as he felt it was important to try to do it himself. They followed this with The Last Post, the British and Commonwealth version of Taps, poignant and painful. They finished this all off with Amazing Grace sung by the Welsh Boys' Choir and placing paper poppies and dedicated poppy wreaths into the fountains at Trafalgar Square.







British Legionnaires in charge of The Poppy Appeal.


It was an amazing experience, even with the technical difficulties of the event, the religious-soaked messages of hope (rather than emphasizing non-biased views), and the very little sleep we got. It was truly memorable. I'm glad I went.



Unfortunately the Imperial War Museum's being cleaned/worked on so the façade is covered. Pity because it's absolutely beautiful. But still, look at those cannons!


The entrance is really spectacular. The floor is crowded with machinery from WWI and WWII: tanks, subs, buses, armoured cars, and planes above.


Independent from the museum, these patrons were kind enough to let me quickly photograph them. Nerdy historical costuming is the best kind.

Another great experience. It was really beautiful. I'll carry it with me for sure.